Photoflash lamp filling machine



Feb. 22, 196s H. REMNG 3,236,269

PHOTOFLASH LAMP FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1'7, 1963 inverni-OV: Gtblefb H. Reling United States Patent O 3,236,269 PHOTOFLASH LAMP FILLING MACHINE Gilbert H. Reiling, Chardon, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 316,986 12 Claims. (Ci. 141-95) This invention relates to the manufacture of photoiiash lamps and more particularly to apparatus for introducing the foil filiing into lamp envelopes.

In the manufacture of photoflash lamps, the foil filling for the lamp is cut or shredded from a thin sheet or ribbon of suitable metal foil such as aluminum or aluminum-magnesium or zirconium and is then conveyed to the lamp through a vacuum or pressure filling head. Such apparatus is shown and disclosed in Patent 2,331,230 -Ripple et al. From the shredded foil machine, the foil filling for the lamp is conveyed through a filling head into the lamp envelope, which lamp is carried on a turret. It is an object of this invention to provide a foil-filling machine with detection means to determine that the lamp envelope is properly filled with foil.

In the manufacture of some miniature photoiiash lamps, such as the lamp known as the AG-1, the lamp envelope is small and requires that an ignition mount be sealed into the lamp prior to loading of the lfoil. Therefore, the foil, upon insertion into the lamp, surrounds the ignition mount and makes ldetection by conventional techniques impossible. It is an object of this invention to provide detecting means for accurately determining that a proper amount of foil has been inserted into a lamp envelope having an ignition mount sealedtherein.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more complete disclosure of the invention wherein a foil filling apparatus for lamp envelopes having an ignition mount sealed therein is provided which apparatus comprises a turret carrying a plurality of lamp envelope gripping means, a filling carriage which is reciprocable into conjunction with the turret having means thereon to automatically' fill the lamp and compact the foil filling therein, and means for driving said turret and said carriage in timed relation to each other; detection means which is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the lamp is provided to determine that the lamp is filled.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is more completely disclosed and hereinafter shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a foil filling machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view more clearly showing the location of the detecting means relative to the lamp envelope.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foil filling machine generally comprises a turret 3 carrying a plurality of bulb gripping jaws 4, said turret being mounted on a horizontal axis. The turret 3 carries the bulbs past a work area which generally includes a filling head 5, a realignment head 6 and a compacting head 7. After the bulbs have been filled, the filled bulbs are moved past an inspection station 9 to a delivery station 8.

The gripping jaws 4 carry a plurality of photoash bulbs which have sealed in one end thereof a mount structure 10 (FIG. 3), which includes lead-in Wires 11 which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bulb. The lead-in wires are spacedly secured together by a bead 12 and have mounted across their interior ends an ignition filament 13. The other end 14 of the tubular lamp envelope is open to receive the foil filling. The

3,236,269 Patented F eb. 22, 1966 lamp envelopes are carried past the inspection station 9 with their longitudinal axes in horizontal position.

The envelope gripping means 4 comprise a generally conventional type of lamp holding means, which includes a fixed gripping jaw 15 and a movable gripping jaw 16. The movable gripping jaw 16 is actuated into an open position by a fixed cam surface 17 which contacts roller 22 of the movable jaw, and upon being moved beyond a pick-up station (not shown) is actuated to a closed position by a spring means 18. Thus, as the turret 3 rotates a lamp gripping means 4 into the area of the pick-up station, the movable jaw 16 is held in an open position; as the lamp gripping means moves past the pick-up station, the cam 17 terminates and permits the movable jaw to be closed by the action of the spring means 18 to securely grip the lamp envelope. The lamp envelope is then carried in a step-by-step manner past the various work stations to the delivery station 8. At the point of delivery of the lamp, a movable jaw opener 19 is provided to precisely open the jaws and release the lamp.

The filling head 5 is mounted on a movable carriage 20 which carriage reciprocates on a pair of slide rods 21 into a foil-inserting position with the end 13 of the bulb. The construction of the lling head 5 is more completely disclosed in copending application Serial No. 300,570, tiled August 7, 1963, andassigned to the same assignee as herein.

Also mounted on the carriage is a compacting head 7 (FIG. 2) which, subsequent to the insertion of the foil into the lamp envelope, compacts the foil into the sealed end of the envelope around the lamp ignition mount I0 in proper position for the subsequent sealing of the lamp envelope. The compacting head 7 comprises a tube 31 having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the envelope connected to a source of air pressure (not shown) by a conduit 32. A realignment head 6 is also provided on the carriage to realign the lamp should a seal develop between the lamp envelope and the filling head tending to pull the lamp out of its proper position on the turret 3 when the carriage 20 is Withdrawn. Back up members 33 are provided at the filling and compacting heads to secure the lamp against movement away from the filling and compacting heads.

The turret 3 is driven by suitable means 34 in a stepby-step manner past the various stations.

The inspection station 9 includes means for inspecting the till condition of the lamp envelope and means for removing the defective lamp from the turret 3 if the y lamps are improperly or incompletely filled. The sensing means provided includes a light source 35 connected to a suitable source of electrical power by conductor 36. The light source 35 and a photocell 37 are mounted on a bracket 38 so that the lamp envelope must pass therebetween with its longitudinal axis aligned between the light source and the photocell. Since the lamp envelope already has the ignition mount structure 10 sealed therein, this alignment is critical since the opaque mount structure would otherwise effect an improper reading by the photocell. By aligning the photocell and the light source along the longitudinal axis of the lamp envelope, the amount of light from the light source 35 blocked by the ignition mount structure remains a constant rather than a variable as it would be if the photocell and light source were mounted so as to be, for example, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lamp. The light response of the photocell is truly indicative of the foil filling present in the lamp envelope, since the mount structure then becomes an opaque body which blocks a constant amount of light.

, The photocell 37 is electrically connected by conductors 39 to a source of power 40 and to the means for removing defective lamps from the turret through an amplifying means 41. The removal means includes a source of air pressure 42 which is connected to an air jet 43 through a valve 44. The valve 44 is actuated .by a solenoid coil 45 which is connected to the amplifier 41 by electrical conductors 46.

The photocell 37 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the lamp envelope so as to respond to the amount of foil placed in the -lamp as determined by the intensity of light from the light source 35 falling on the photocell 3'7. Should the light intensity rise above a predetermined intensity due to a deficient amount or total lack of foil in the lamp, the solenoid coil 45 for the valve 44 will be actuated.

The lamp removing means is completed by a fixed cam 47 mounted in the path of travel of the movable jaw roller 22 so as to partially open the jaws of the 4bulb-holding means. Thus as the turret 3 is rotated, the cam surface 47 operates to loosen the grip of the bulb-holding means on the lamp envelope and, if the solenoid coil 45 has been actuated in response to the sensing of a defective lamp, the air through jet 43 will blow the defective lamp off of the turret 3. Suitable chute means (not shown) may be provided to convey 4the defective envelope away from the machine.

It is believed that the invention with its numerous advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the structural parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein disclosed being the .preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating Athe invention.

Y What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for filling charges of filamentary lightproducing material within the interior of flash lamp bulbs having an ignition mount sealed in one end and an open other end comprising, in combination, a filling head adapted to insert filamentary material into the interior of said bulbs, means for inspecting the bulbs including a photocell and light source aligned with the longitudinal axis of said bulbs, and means for gripping and moving said bulbs from said filling head past said inspection means.

2. Apparatus for filling charges of filamentary lightproducing material within the interior of flash lamp bulbs having an ignition mount sealed in one end and an open other end comprising, in combination, a filling head adapted to insert filamentary material into the interior of said bulbs, means for rejecting improperly filled bulbs including a photocell and light source aligned with the longitudinal axis of said bulbs and means responsive to said photocell for diverting said improperly filled bulbs and means for gripping and moving said bulbs from said filling head past said rejection means.

3. Apparatus for filling and positioning charges of filamentary light-producing material within the interiors of flash lamp bulbs having ignition means sealed in one end and an open other end comprising, in combination, a turret having a plurality of bulb-holding means mounted for rotation, a filling head adapted to receive the open end of a bulb and insert filamentary light-producing material therein, an inspection means mounted a `predetermined distance from said filling head, and means for moving said turret in a step-by-step manner so la's tocarry bulbs from said filling head past said inspection means, said inspection means having means for rejection of improperly filled bulbs including a photocell and light source aligned with the longitudinal axis of said bulb.

4. Apparatus for filling and` positioning charges of filamentary light-producing material within the interiors of flash lamp bulbs having ignition means mounted in one end and an open other end comprising, in combination, a turret having a plurality of bulb-holding means for gripping said bulbs, a filling head adapted to receive the open end of a bulb and insert filamentary material therein, an inspection means mounted a predetermined distance from said filling head, and means for moving said turret in a step-by-step manner so as to carry bulbs from said filling head past said inspection means, said inspection means having means for rejection of improperly filled bulbs including a photocell and light source aligned with the longitudinal axis of said bulb, means for loosening the grip of said bulb-holding means and means responsive to said photocell for removing improperly filled bulbs from said turret.

5. Apparatus for filling and positioning charges of filamentary light-producing material within the interior of flash lamp bulbs having ignition means sealed in one end and an open other end, comprising a filling means, an inspection means, a delivery station and a turret having a plurality of lamp bulb holding means thereon for transferring a bulb from the filling means past the inspection means to the ydelivery station, said inspection means having means for rejecting improperly filled bulbs including a photocell and a light source aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bulb.

6. Apparatus for filling and positioning charges of filamentary light-producing material within the interior of flash lamp bulbs having ignition means sealed in one end and an open other end, comprising a filling means, an inspection means, a delivery station and means having a plurality of lamp holding means thereon for transferring a bulb from the filling means past the inspection means to the delivery station, said inspection means having means for rejecting improperly filled bulbs including a photocell and a light source aligned with respect to the longitudinal aXis of the bulb, means for loosening the bulb holding means and air jet means responsive to said photocell for removing improperly filled bulbs from said transfer means.

7. Apparatus for filling charges of filamentary lightproducing material within the interior of flash lamp bulbs having an opaque structure sealed in one end and an open other end comprising, in combination, a filling head adapted to insert filamentary material into the interior of said bulbs, means for inspecting the bulbs including a photocell and light source so that the opaque structure blocks a constant amount of light, and means for gripping and moving said bulbs from said filling head past said inspection means.

8. Apparatus for filling charges of filamentary `lightproducing material within the interior of flash lamp bulbs having an opaque structure sealed in one end and an open other end comprising, in combination, a filling head adapted to insert filamentary material into the interior of said bulbs, means for rejecting improperly filled bulbs including a photocell and light source so that the opaque structure blocks a constant amount of light and means responsive to said photocell for diverting said improperly filled bulbs and means for gripping and moving said bulbs from said filling head past said rejection means.

9. Apparatus for filling and positioning charges of filamentary light-producing material Within the interiors of flash lamp bulbs having an opaque structure sealed in one end and an open other end comprising, in combination, a turret having a plurality of bulb-holding means mounted for rotation, a filling head adapted to` receive the open end of a bulb and insert filamentary light-producing material therein, an inspection means mounted a predetermined distance from said filling head, 4and means for moving said turret in a step-by-step manner so as to carry bulbs from said filling head past said inspection means, said inspection means having means for rejection of improperly filled bulbs including a photocell and light source so that the opaque structure blocks a constant amount of light.

10. Apparatus for filling and positioning charges of tilamentary light-producing material Within the interiors of ash lamp bulbs having an opaque structure mounted in one end and an open other end comprising, in combination, a turret having a plurality of bulb-holding means for gripping said bulbs, a filling head adapted to receive the open end of a bulb and insert lamentary material therein, an inspection means mounted a predetermined distance from said iilling head, and means for moving said turret in a step-by-step manner so as to carry bulbs from said lling head past said inspection means, said inspection means having means for rejection of improperly filled bulbs including a photocell and light source so that the opaque structure blocks a constant amount of light, means for loosening the grip of said bulb-holding means and means responsive to said photocell for removing improperly lled bulbs from said turret.

11. Apparatus `for filling and positioning` charges of iilamentary light-producing material Within the interiors of flash lamp bulbs having an opaque structure sealed in one end and an open other end, comprising a filling means, an inspection means, a delivery station and a turret having a plurality of lamp bulb holding means thereon for transferring a bulb from the iilling means past the inspection means to the delivery station, said inspection means having means for rejecting improperly tilled bulbs including a photocell and a light source so that the opaque structure blocks a constant amount of light.

12. Apparatus for filling and positioning charges of ilamentary light-producing material Within the interiors of dash lamp bulbs having an opaque structure sealed in one end and an open other end, comprising a lling means, an inspection means, a delivery station and means having a plurality of lamp bulb holding means thereon for transferring a bulb from the filling means past the inspection means to the delivery station, said inspection means having means for rejecting improperly iilled bulbs including a photocell and a light source so that the opaque structure blocks a constant amount of light, means for loosening the bulb holding means and air jet means responsive to said photocell for removing improperly illed bulbs from said transfer means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,491,418 12/ 1949 Schlesman 141-83 X 2,700,465 1/1955 Pechy et al 141-83 X FOREIGN PATENTS 876,754 9/ 1961 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primaly Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR FILLING CHARGES OF FILAMENTARY LIGHTPRODUCING MATERIAL WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF FLASH LAMP BULBS HAVING AN IGNITION AMOUNT SEALED IN ONE END AND AN OPEN OTHER END COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FILLING HEAD ADAPTED TO INSERT FILAMENTARY MATERIAL INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID BULBS, MEANS FOR INSPECTING THE BULBS IN CLUDING A PHOTOCELL AND LIGHT SOURCE ALIGNED WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BULBS, AND MEANS FOR GRIPPING AND MOVING SAID BULBS FROM SAID FILLING HEAD PAST SAID INSPECTION MEANS. 